I meant to write about this earlier, but time and a bad email filing system got the better of me, and I do apologize for the lateness of this tribute.

Mr. Bumby, beloved baby boy of David and Theresa of Chicago, passed away last summer.

It took his mom Theresa a while to be able to write the email I’ve quoted from below, because when are hearts have been torn in two, words tend to fail us.

I’ll let Theresa herself tell you more about Mr. Bumby –

We lost the battle – in such a massive and heartbreaking way. August 16th, 2007 – our beloved Mr. Bumby was peacefully and respectfully escorted to the rest he so needed and deserved. He never gave up in spirit, but the physical failed him on all fronts. We all tried so hard – Mr. Bumby, David, I and the team of veterinary specialists we worked with – to no avail.

You’ve no idea how much we loved that man and how much happiness he brought to our lives. Not just ours alone – but to all of our friends and family – and I’m pretty sure he made our neighborhood a better place too. He was such an ambassador of good will, at all times, and had such a loving personality – that’s just who he was from day one, I think. The influx of cards and flowers and well wishes we received after his passing was astounding – and I think that alone speaks volumes, coming at a time when just the ‘common courtesy’ isn’t that common in most peoples’ daily routines. Dealing with his illness and having to make the decision on when it was time to say goodbye were the most painful situations I’ve been through. And I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. There’s not been a day since August when at least a few tears haven’t managed to sneak up on me at some point – but there’s no bitterness to them, mostly it’s just love and longing.

He is so very much missed.

I do apologize for taking so long to deliver the news; I hope you understand. I needed to let you know, and more importantly, I needed to thank you for the amazing contribution to the quality and happiness of our lives. I don’t think it’s exaggerating to say that I’d be a lesser person if I hadn’t had the pleasure of Mr. Bumby’s company – not to mention Maurice (aka the cow puppy).

I don’t know what I can add to such a tribute, except to say this – I can’t begin to say how much it means to me to know that he was loved so much by his people.

Every time we send a puppy out into the world, to a new home we can only hope we’ve done the best possible job in choosing, we are taking a leap of faith.

Learning of their deaths is always sad, since for the most part, my last memories of them are of their puppyhood. I can remember them only as they were in the time they were with me, so it’s sometimes hard for me to imagine them as adults, let alone as seniors.

I know Bumby had a wonderful life, which is as much as we can ever hope for our pups.